第十三回 · 老叟脫難 The Old Man Delivers the Pilgrim — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

老叟脫難 The Old Man Delivers the Pilgrim

不bù一yì時shí，紅hóng日rì高gāo昇shēng，三sān藏zàng昏hūn昏hūn沉chén沉chén，也yě辨biàn不bù得dé東dōng西xī南nán北běi。正zhèng在zài那nà不bù得dé命mìng處chù，忽hū然rán見jiàn一yì老lǎo叟sǒu，手shǒu持chí拄zhǔ杖zhàng而ér來lái。走zǒu上shàng前qián，用yòng手shǒu一yì拂fú，繩shéng索suǒ皆jiē斷duàn。對duì面miàn吹chuī了le一yì口kǒu氣qì，三sān藏zàng方fāng甦sū，跪guì拜bài於yú地dì道dào：「多duō謝xiè老lǎo公gōng公gong，搭dā救jiù貧pín僧sēng性xìng命mìng。」老lǎo叟sǒu答dá禮lǐ道dào：「你nǐ起qǐ來lái。你nǐ可kě曾céng疏shū失shī了le甚shén麼me東dōng西xī？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「貧pín僧sēng的de從cóng人rén已yǐ是shì被bèi怪guài食shí了le。只zhǐ不bù知zhī行xíng李lǐ、馬mǎ匹pǐ在zài於yú何hé處chù？」老lǎo叟sǒu用yòng杖zhàng指zhǐ道dào：「那nà廂xiāng不bú是shì一yì匹pǐ馬mǎ、兩liǎng個gè包bāo袱fú？」三sān藏zàng回huí頭tóu看kàn時shí，果guǒ是shì他tā的de物wù件jiàn，並bìng不bù曾céng失shī落luò，心xīn才cái略lüè放fàng下xià些xiē。問wèn老lǎo叟sǒu曰yuē：「老lǎo公gōng公gong，此cǐ處chù是shì甚shén所suǒ在zài？公gōng公gong何hé由yóu在zài此cǐ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「此cǐ是shì雙shuāng叉chā嶺lǐng，乃nǎi虎hǔ狼láng巢cháo穴xué處chù。你nǐ為wèi何hé墮duò此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「貧pín僧sēng雞jī鳴míng時shí，出chū河hé州zhōu衛wèi界jiè，不bú料liào起qǐ得de早zǎo了le，冒mào霜shuāng撥bō露lù，忽hū失shī落luò此cǐ地dì。見jiàn一yì魔mó王wáng，兇xiōng頑wán太tài甚shèn，將jiāng貧pín僧sēng與yǔ二èr從cóng者zhě綁bǎng了le。又yòu見jiàn一yì條tiáo黑hēi漢hàn，稱chēng是shì熊xióng山shān君jūn；一yì條tiáo胖pàng漢hàn，稱chēng是shì特tè處chù士shì：走zǒu進jìn來lái，稱chēng那nà魔mó王wáng是shì寅yín將jiāng軍jūn。他tā三sān個gè把bǎ我wǒ二èr從cóng者zhě吃chī了le，天tiān光guāng才cái散sàn。不bù想xiǎng我wǒ是shì那nǎ裡lǐ有yǒu這zhè大dà緣yuán大dà分fèn，感gǎn得de老lǎo公gōng公gong來lái此cǐ救jiù我wǒ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「處chù士shì者zhě，是shì個gè野yě牛niú精jīng；山shān君jūn者zhě，是shì個gè熊xióng羆pí精jīng；寅yín將jiāng軍jūn者zhě，是shì個gè老lǎo虎hǔ精jīng。左zuǒ右yòu妖yāo邪xié，盡jìn都dōu是shì山shān精jīng樹shù鬼guǐ、怪guài獸shòu蒼cāng狼láng。只zhǐ因yīn你nǐ的de本běn性xìng元yuán明míng，所suǒ以yǐ吃chī不bù得dé你nǐ。你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ來lái，引yǐn你nǐ上shàng路lù。」不bù一yì时shí，红hóng日rì高gāo升shēng，三sān藏zàng昏hūn昏hūn沉chén沉chén，也yě辨biàn不bù得dé东dōng西xī南nán北běi。正zhèng在zài那nà不bù得dé命mìng处chù，忽hū然rán见jiàn一yì老lǎo叟sǒu，手shǒu持chí拄zhǔ杖zhàng而ér来lái。走zǒu上shàng前qián，用yòng手shǒu一yì拂fú，绳shéng索suǒ皆jiē断duàn。对duì面miàn吹chuī了le一yì口kǒu气qì，三sān藏zàng方fāng苏sū，跪guì拜bài于yú地dì道dào：「多duō谢xiè老lǎo公gōng公gong，搭dā救jiù贫pín僧sēng性xìng命mìng。」老lǎo叟sǒu答dá礼lǐ道dào：「你nǐ起qǐ来lái。你nǐ可kě曾céng疏shū失shī了le甚shén么me东dōng西xī？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「贫pín僧sēng的de从cóng人rén已yǐ是shì被bèi怪guài食shí了le。只zhǐ不bù知zhī行xíng李lǐ、马mǎ匹pǐ在zài于yú何hé处chù？」老lǎo叟sǒu用yòng杖zhàng指zhǐ道dào：「那nà厢xiāng不bú是shì一yì匹pǐ马mǎ、两liǎng个gè包bāo袱fú？」三sān藏zàng回huí头tóu看kàn时shí，果guǒ是shì他tā的de物wù件jiàn，并bìng不bù曾céng失shī落luò，心xīn才cái略lüè放fàng下xià些xiē。问wèn老lǎo叟sǒu曰yuē：「老lǎo公gōng公gong，此cǐ处chù是shì甚shén所suǒ在zài？公gōng公gong何hé由yóu在zài此cǐ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「此cǐ是shì双shuāng叉chā岭lǐng，乃nǎi虎hǔ狼láng巢cháo穴xué处chù。你nǐ为wèi何hé堕duò此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「贫pín僧sēng鸡jī鸣míng时shí，出chū河hé州zhōu卫wèi界jiè，不bú料liào起qǐ得de早zǎo了le，冒mào霜shuāng拨bō露lù，忽hū失shī落luò此cǐ地dì。见jiàn一yì魔mó王wáng，凶xiōng顽wán太tài甚shèn，将jiāng贫pín僧sēng与yǔ二èr从cóng者zhě绑bǎng了le。又yòu见jiàn一yì条tiáo黑hēi汉hàn，称chēng是shì熊xióng山shān君jūn；一yì条tiáo胖pàng汉hàn，称chēng是shì特tè处chù士shì：走zǒu进jìn来lái，称chēng那nà魔mó王wáng是shì寅yín将jiāng军jūn。他tā三sān个gè把bǎ我wǒ二èr从cóng者zhě吃chī了le，天tiān光guāng才cái散sàn。不bù想xiǎng我wǒ是shì那nǎ里lǐ有yǒu这zhè大dà缘yuán大dà分fèn，感gǎn得de老lǎo公gōng公gong来lái此cǐ救jiù我wǒ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「处chù士shì者zhě，是shì个gè野yě牛niú精jīng；山shān君jūn者zhě，是shì个gè熊xióng罴pí精jīng；寅yín将jiāng军jūn者zhě，是shì个gè老lǎo虎hǔ精jīng。左zuǒ右yòu妖yāo邪xié，尽jìn都dōu是shì山shān精jīng树shù鬼guǐ、怪guài兽shòu苍cāng狼láng。只zhǐ因yīn你nǐ的de本běn性xìng元yuán明míng，所suǒ以yǐ吃chī不bù得dé你nǐ。你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ来lái，引yǐn你nǐ上shàng路lù。」

逐句解 Line by line

Before long the red sun rose high, and Sanzang, dazed and reeling, could not tell east from west or south from north. Just at that point, when his life seemed past all saving, he suddenly saw an old man coming toward him, staff in hand. The old man walked up, gave a wave of his hand, and the ropes and cords all snapped apart; he breathed a breath upon his face, and Sanzang came to himself, knelt and bowed to the ground, and said: "My deep thanks, aged sir, for saving this poor monk's life." Returning the courtesy, the old man said: "Rise. Have you perhaps lost anything of yours?" Sanzang said: "The men who attended me have already been eaten by the fiends. I only do not know where my baggage and my horse may be." The old man pointed with his staff and said: "Is that not a horse and two bundles over yonder?" Sanzang turned his head to look, and it was indeed his own belongings, nothing lost at all; and only then did his heart set down a little of its burden.

A wave that cuts ropes, a breath that revives a fainting man — nobody is meant to think this is a passing traveller. The novel withholds his name anyway. He is 太白金星, the Gold Star of Venus, but that will not be said aloud until he has gone.

問wèn老lǎo叟sǒu曰yuē：「老lǎo公gōng公gong，此cǐ處chù是shì甚shén所suǒ在zài？公gōng公gong何hé由yóu在zài此cǐ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「此cǐ是shì雙shuāng叉chā嶺lǐng，乃nǎi虎hǔ狼láng巢cháo穴xué處chù。你nǐ為wèi何hé墮duò此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「貧pín僧sēng雞jī鳴míng時shí，出chū河hé州zhōu衛wèi界jiè，不bú料liào起qǐ得de早zǎo了le，冒mào霜shuāng撥bō露lù，忽hū失shī落luò此cǐ地dì。見jiàn一yì魔mó王wáng，兇xiōng頑wán太tài甚shèn，將jiāng貧pín僧sēng與yǔ二èr從cóng者zhě綁bǎng了le。又yòu見jiàn一yì條tiáo黑hēi漢hàn，稱chēng是shì熊xióng山shān君jūn；一yì條tiáo胖pàng漢hàn，稱chēng是shì特tè處chù士shì：走zǒu進jìn來lái，稱chēng那nà魔mó王wáng是shì寅yín將jiāng軍jūn。他tā三sān個gè把bǎ我wǒ二èr從cóng者zhě吃chī了le，天tiān光guāng才cái散sàn。不bù想xiǎng我wǒ是shì那nǎ裡lǐ有yǒu這zhè大dà緣yuán大dà分fèn，感gǎn得de老lǎo公gōng公gong來lái此cǐ救jiù我wǒ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「處chù士shì者zhě，是shì個gè野yě牛niú精jīng；山shān君jūn者zhě，是shì個gè熊xióng羆pí精jīng；寅yín將jiāng軍jūn者zhě，是shì個gè老lǎo虎hǔ精jīng。左zuǒ右yòu妖yāo邪xié，盡jìn都dōu是shì山shān精jīng樹shù鬼guǐ、怪guài獸shòu蒼cāng狼láng。只zhǐ因yīn你nǐ的de本běn性xìng元yuán明míng，所suǒ以yǐ吃chī不bù得dé你nǐ。你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ來lái，引yǐn你nǐ上shàng路lù。」问wèn老lǎo叟sǒu曰yuē：「老lǎo公gōng公gong，此cǐ处chù是shì甚shén所suǒ在zài？公gōng公gong何hé由yóu在zài此cǐ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「此cǐ是shì双shuāng叉chā岭lǐng，乃nǎi虎hǔ狼láng巢cháo穴xué处chù。你nǐ为wèi何hé堕duò此cǐ？」三sān藏zàng道dào：「贫pín僧sēng鸡jī鸣míng时shí，出chū河hé州zhōu卫wèi界jiè，不bú料liào起qǐ得de早zǎo了le，冒mào霜shuāng拨bō露lù，忽hū失shī落luò此cǐ地dì。见jiàn一yì魔mó王wáng，凶xiōng顽wán太tài甚shèn，将jiāng贫pín僧sēng与yǔ二èr从cóng者zhě绑bǎng了le。又yòu见jiàn一yì条tiáo黑hēi汉hàn，称chēng是shì熊xióng山shān君jūn；一yì条tiáo胖pàng汉hàn，称chēng是shì特tè处chù士shì：走zǒu进jìn来lái，称chēng那nà魔mó王wáng是shì寅yín将jiāng军jūn。他tā三sān个gè把bǎ我wǒ二èr从cóng者zhě吃chī了le，天tiān光guāng才cái散sàn。不bù想xiǎng我wǒ是shì那nǎ里lǐ有yǒu这zhè大dà缘yuán大dà分fèn，感gǎn得de老lǎo公gōng公gong来lái此cǐ救jiù我wǒ？」老lǎo叟sǒu道dào：「处chù士shì者zhě，是shì个gè野yě牛niú精jīng；山shān君jūn者zhě，是shì个gè熊xióng罴pí精jīng；寅yín将jiāng军jūn者zhě，是shì个gè老lǎo虎hǔ精jīng。左zuǒ右yòu妖yāo邪xié，尽jìn都dōu是shì山shān精jīng树shù鬼guǐ、怪guài兽shòu苍cāng狼láng。只zhǐ因yīn你nǐ的de本běn性xìng元yuán明míng，所suǒ以yǐ吃chī不bù得dé你nǐ。你nǐ跟gēn我wǒ来lái，引yǐn你nǐ上shàng路lù。」

He asked the old man: "Aged sir, what place is this? And how does it come that you are here?" The old man said: "This is Twin-Fork Ridge, a lair of tigers and wolves. How did you come to fall into it?" Sanzang said: "At cockcrow this poor monk left the border of the Hezhou garrison; but not looking to have started too early, I braved the frost and brushed through the dew, and suddenly fell into this place. I met a Monster King, savage and brutal beyond all measure, who bound this poor monk and his two attendants. Then came a swarthy fellow, who called himself the Mountain Lord Xiong, and a portly fellow, who called himself the Recluse Te; and when they came in, they called the Monster King General Yin. The three of them ate my two attendants, and only at daybreak did they disperse. What great karmic affinity and lot can I possess, that I should be favoured with your coming here to save me?" The old man said: "The Recluse is a wild-ox spirit; the Mountain Lord is a bear spirit; and General Yin is an old-tiger spirit. The fiends to either side are one and all mountain-sprites and tree-goblins, monstrous beasts and grey wolves. It is only because your own true nature is fundamentally enlightened that they could not eat you. Come with me, and I will set you on your road."

雙叉嶺 (Shuāng-chā Lǐng), "Twin-Fork Ridge," is the place named in the chapter's own title. The old man then answers the question the last scene raised. The three lords were 精 (jīng) — animal-spirits, creatures that have practised long enough to take human shape — and Xuanzang survived because his 本性元明, his "originally enlightened nature," made him inedible. It is a striking piece of logic: his virtue is not a shield he holds up, it is a property of him, like being poisonous. The chapter has now said twice that what protects this defenceless man is the state of his mind.

總評 Commentary

Rescue arrives disguised as an old man with a stick, which is how rescue usually arrives in this novel. The miracles are performed casually — a wave, a breath — and not remarked on by anyone.

The scene is nearly all dialogue, and it is doing two jobs. It answers the question left hanging in the pit: the three lords were animal-spirits, and the monk could not be eaten because of what he is inside. That ties his physical survival directly to his spiritual condition, which is a large claim for the book to make this early and a pattern it will keep returning to.

And it names the ground. Twin-Fork Ridge is half of the chapter's title, so the episode is being formally filed. The rescuer is still anonymous, though — the novel is holding one reveal back for the next passage.